A Simple Thermal Decomposition Method for Synthesis of Co0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 Magnetic Nanoparticles

Magnetic nanoparticles attracted a great deal of attention in the medical applications due to their unique properties. The most exceptional property of magnetic particles is their response to a magnetic force, and this property has been utilized in applications such as drug targeting, bioseparation, contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and heating mediators for cancer therapy. In this study, a ternary system of Co0.4Zn0.6Fe2O4 was synthesized by thermal decomposition method using metal acetylacetonate in high temperature boiling point solvent and fatty acids. Unlike other synthesis techniques this method can be get nearly monodispersed nanoparticles that makes them suitable for medical applications like hyperthermia. X-ray diffraction study was used to determine phase purity, crystal structure, and average crystallite size of cobalt-zinc ferrite nanoparticles. The average diameter of particles was determined by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) around 16 nm. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) measurement confirmed mono phase spinel structure of ferrite. The as-prepared ferrite nanoparticles were characterized extensively by other analytic techniques like vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) to achieve magnetic properties of nanoparticles. Room temperature magnetization measurements showed the magnetization Ms and coercivity of magnetic nanoparticles as high as 74 emu/g and 114 Oe, which can be a good candidate for use in hyperthermia applications.